Ax-handle shield and fastening



W. T. HATTEN AX HANDLE SHIELD AND FASTENING.

APPLICATION FILED APILZSI. IQIS).

Patented my 20, 1920.

ATTOR N EY ME M UNITED STATES WILLIAM `THOMAS HATTEN, OF HAY CREEK,OREGON.

AX-HANDLE SHIELD 4.AND FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application filed April 29, 1919. Serial No. 293,489.

To all whom, t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. HA'r'rEN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Hay Creek, in the county ofJefferson and State of Gregori, have inventedy a new and usefulAx-Handle Shield and Fastening, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to ax handle shields and fastenings.

An object is to provide a shield or protector for the handles ofv axesor similar toolsI which will effectually guard against breaking thehandle close to its connection with the head of the tool, whether indelivering a straightblow as when splitting a log of wood, or whensubjecting the handle of the ax to a side strain, as when freeing the axfrom the portions of a partially split iog, said shield serving theadditional function of fastening the'handle to the ax head.

Another object is to provide a shield of this character which may beapplied to either a single or double-edged ax without materiallyaltering the construction of the same, and which will not add anyappreciable weight thereto, the same being constructed of sheet metaland of such simple formation as to be readily manufactured and appliedto the aX or other tool of like character without adding materially tothe cost thereof.

A full and complete understanding ofthe invention may be obtained from aconsideration of the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specifica tion; itbeing understood that Y while the drawing showsa practical form oftheinvention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith,but may be changed or modified, soA long as such changes Aormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which like reference characters designate similarparts throughout the several figures Figure 1 is a side elevation of aportion of a two-edged or double-bitted ax having the invention appliedthereto and with th handle broken away.

Fig. .2 is a transverse section, taken on the lline 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 8.

Fig.- 5 is a detail perspective view of 011e of the shields.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, parts being partly broken away, showing theinvention applied to an ordinary single-edged ax.

I Fig. 7 is an end view of the ax shown in Fig. 6.

^ The ax illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, of the drawing, is ofthe two-edge formation commonly known as a double -bitted ax, whereinthe head proper 1 is provided with a cutting edge 2 at each end, andhaving at the center thereof a longitudinally disposed opening or eye 3,preferably elliptical in cross section for the reception of the end ofthe handle 4 in the usual manner.

At a point midway of the cutting edges and arranged to intersect thelongitudinal central line of the handle 4, the head 1 is provided with atransverse bore or aperture 5 passing through both sides of the head andadapted to receive a metal pin 6, for the purpose of holding said headupon the end'of the handle, and at the same time to engage withco-acting means carried by the shield of the present invention, in amanner to be explained.

The handle 4 is of ordinary wooden type formed in the usual manner andprovided with a transversely disposedV aperture 7 adapted to registerwith the aperture 5in the head, when the same is in the position on thehandle to receive the pin 6.

The opening or eye 3 of the head 1 is somewhat larger than that portionof the handle traversing the same, the difference in size being designedto accommodate a pair of sheet metal plates 8 8, which are of sufficientthickness to cause a tight fit `of the handle in the head and to preventany relative movement of the two parts.

The plates 8 8 which are used in pairs upon aXes of the kind described,are formed U-shaped in cross section, to it the thinner edges of thehandle where entering the head, and are adapted to lie with their outerends 9 Hush with the outer end face of the head 1 and to extend, attheir inner ends 10 a considerable distance beyond the inner end face ofthe' head and along the edges of the handle in order to brace the sameand to shield it from injury when contacting with objects being split orchopped by the ax. These plates are seen to be set crosswise of 'shieldsis necessary.

the plane of action of the tool,.are of equal thickness throughout, andhave their greatest width where set within the eye.

The inner ends 10 ofthe shields 8 converge somewhat to conform to theshape of the ordinary ax handle, and are provided at .their opposededges, near their outer ends, with semi-circular seats or notches 11-11-which are so positioned as to register with `1, Ysaid wedge hav-ing acentral aperture 14:

for the passage of the pin 6. The wedge is Vdriven into the handle tospread the `same .apart and forma tight fit within the shield plates8-8, which are thus forced into close Iengagement with vthe walls of theeye 3 of 'the head. l. It will be seen that after the several parts areassembled in .the lmanner described, and the pin 6 V.driven home, the

-said parts are securely held together and ymay not become accidentallyseparated, the lpin being ,of a length Ito lie flush with the -sides of.the head 1 and lof Ia diameter `to tightly fit .the several bores so asnot to be jarred loose. If desired the pin may be upset at either or`both ends to hold the same in place. j Y

In Figs. .6 and 7, there .is illustrated .a sing-le edged ax 15.havingone of the shields of the present invention applied thereto, saidshield differing somewhat from that already described, in that thenotches 11 are dispensed with, and a suitable aperture or seat formedthrough the center of the U- shaped wings of the shield plate., forthe-reeeption of the pin 17., which further -.traverses an aperture in.the wedge 18 and valso :apertures in the side walls of .the aX 15.,.as

-in the first :described form of .theinventioin In .the single edged .axit is only `necessary to use one of ythe shield plates, as the handlewillionly vbe struck upon the edge neXt tothe -cutting ledge of :thehead`-15,'whereas in the case of the double-.edged ax, a -pairof theFrom the foregoing it will be seen-that a fsimple, cheap vand efficientyshield .or pro- .tector :has been provided for use upon han- .dles ofaxes, and I,other similar .tools which, in use, are subjected to .theforce of striking blows :and which are oi'ten split or broken wvhen, :byaccident, ythe handlepof the tool is brought -into lated upon.

While both wedges and Vshields for axes are old, I vamnnotaware thatanyone has ever contact with `,the article oper- 'produced thecombination herein described,

head.

in which the wedge, handle, and shield are all secured to the aX head bya single pin.

It will be noted that in both forms of the invention, the wedge is equalin width to the handle, so that when applied, the longitudi- 'nal edgesof the wedge engage the inner face Y 'of Ithe shield plate or plates.

it has been proposed to use ax handle shields which -are integral withVthe head. Such shields would `add materially to the cost of making the4aX head and would require specialshaping of the handle each time .a newoneis fitted. AX handle shields separate from .the head have been used,but when in position on the handle have been wholly outside the eye ofthe head'. The present invention is distinguishable from what othershave done in this line in .extending .the aX shield into ythe eye ofthe'ax, where itis heldV firmly in place without movement from .the Thepin prevents movement of the shield which might cause an abrasion orchafing of .the handle near where it enters the eye. Furthermore, theshield coperates with the wedge in holding-the head iirmly upon thehandle.

Vhat is claimed is- Y l. The combination with an ax head or similar toolhaving an eye and a handle therefor, a-metallic shield plate U-shaped incross section bent to conform to the shape of the handle and practicallysurrounding theV same at the end Where entering the aeye, said plate.fitting against thewall of the eye and `extending across the .plane ofaction of the tool and projecting along the handle beyond the innerVside of the head a'suficient distance to servelasa protection orithatV.portion of Vthe handle contiguous to the head, said plate having anequal thickness throughout .and a width within the Veye greater thanlthe corresponding dimension without lthe `eye, said handle having atransverse bore, saidait head also .having a transverse bore, saidshield plate Vhaving a transverse seat, a'wedge adapted tobe driven intothe end ofVV the handle where entering ythe eye of the ax head andhaving a :transverse other across the plane .ofaction'r lof .the tooland projecting along the handle beyond the innerside of the fheadasufficient .distance to serve as a protection iforithat portionof .the

handle contiguous t0 the head, said handle having a transverse bore,said aX head also having a transverse bore, and said shield plate havinga transverse seat, a Wedge substantially equal in Width to the Width ofthe handle end entering the eye and adapted to be driven into said endWith one of its longitudinal edges in substantial contact With the innerside of the shield plate, said Wedge being nearly equal in length to thelength of the eye and having a transverse aperture adapted to registerwith said bores in the handle and head and said seat of the shieldplate, and a pin of a size to fit the said bores, said aperture and saidseat and adapted to be driven therein to hold allthe parts together.

3. In combination With an aX head or similar tool having an eye, and ahandle therefor, a metallic shield or protector composed oi' two platessubstantially U-shaped in cross section bent to conform to the shape ofthe handle and to practically surround the saine atV the end thereofWhere entering the eye, said plates iitting throughout the Wall of theeye from one end to the other and projecting along the handle beyond theinner side of the head a sufficient distance to serve as a protectionfor that portion of the handle contiguous to the head, said hann dlehaving 'a transverse bore, said ax head also having a transverse bore,and said shield plates having registering seats or notches, a Wedgeadapted to be driven into the end of the handle Where entering the eyeof the aX head and having a length nearly equal to the length of the eyeand having a Width substantially equal to the Width of the ax handle,whereby the longitudinal edges of the Wedge are adapted to engage theinner sides of the shield plates, said Wedge having a transverseaperture which is adapted t0 register with said bores in the handle andhead and said seats in the shield plates, and a transverse pin of a sizeto lit said bores, aperture and seats and adapted to be driven thereinto hold all of said parts together.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afixedmy signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

WILLIAM THOMAS IIATTEN.

Witnesses MANILA DEE, WM. ENDIcoTT.

